Universal self-leveling dispenser

ABSTRACT

Universal self-leveling dispenser useful for food services. Apertures in the elevator platform mount tubular guides for divider rods and provide air circulation for heating and cooling articles on the platform. Heating and cooling units are installable to replace bottom and side walls. Unimpeded air paths below the elevator platform, together with apertures of the platform and particular placement of the temperature changing units provide self-adjusting air flow paths that depend upon where the articles are stacked.

States Patent n 1 Elite- Cmings 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] UNIVERSALSELF-LEVELING DISPENSER [75] Inventor: Gilbert A. Cummings, Norwell,

Mass.

[73] Assignee: Peters & Co., Inc., Boston, Mass.

[22] Filed: April 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 137,166

[52] 11.8. C1 ..312/7l, 220/93 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 1/00 [58] FieldoiSearch .312/71; 220/93; 211/49 S, 49 D [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,033,633 5/1962 Holloway et al ..3l2/7l X 1,946,6232/1934 lrwin ..220/93 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-JohnNoel Williams [57] ABSTRACT Universal self-leveling dispenser useful forfood services. Apertures in the elevator platform mount tubular guidesfor divider rods and provide air circulation for heating and coolingarticles on the platform. Heating and cooling units are installable toreplace bottom and side walls. Unimpeded air paths below the elevatorplatform, together with apertures of the platform and particularplacement of the temperature changing units provide self-adjusting airflow paths that depend upon where the articles are stacked.

12 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEnriszoleza SHEET 2 BF 3 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

22 FIG. 8

PATENTED 3. 7 1 7, 397

sum 3 OF 3 //1|/ll/V FIG. l5

UNIVERSAL SELF-LEVELING DISPENSER This invention concerns self-levelingdispensers of the type used in food services such as kitchens andcafeterias.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is botheconomical to construct and adaptable to a variety of needs.

Particular objects include the provision of reliable and simple meansfor driving an elevator platform into sectors for a number of stacks ofarticles; presenting the articles to the user at the desired temperaturecondition; and providing a dispenser construction which can bemanufactured as a standard item while providing for ready modificationto achieve various temperature conditions.

In one aspect the invention concerns a self-leveling dispenser of theknown type comprising an elevator platform biased upwardly which hasstationary divider rods resting on a bottom surface and passing throughapertures inthe article support surface of the platform to separatestacks of articles on the platform from one another. The inventionfeatures in this construction a multiplicity of apertures in thesupporting surface of the elevator with vertical tubular form guidemembers secured in selected apertures, and the guide rods slidablydisposed within the tubular guide members,

whereby, as the platform moves, the tubular form guide members movevertically along the stationary rods while positioning these rods on thesupport surface.

Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention feature thetubular guide members removably secured in the apertures to enablechange in position of the guide rods; the tubular guide memberscomprising elongated tubes threaded on one end and including a matchingmember threaded on the tube and engaging and securing the tubular membervertically with respect to the platform with the tubular memberprotruding freely, vertically from the point of attachment; apertures ofhorizontally elongated form with the tubular guide members adjustabletherealong; and one of the pair comprising the tubular member and theportion of the platform forming the aperture being resilientlydeformable, forming a snap lock between the pair.

According to another aspect of the invention, while divider rods passthrough some apertures in the article support surface of the platform,the invention features a majority of aperture area remaining left open,the dispenser includes a cabinet enclosing the elevator platform, and anair temperature modifying means is associated with the cabinet, arrangedto change the air temperature in a given area of the cabinet, while theopen aperture area of the platform provides air circulation passagesenabling temperature-modified air to pass through the platform andcontact the various stacks of articles thereon at various self-leveledpositions of the platform.

In preferred embodiments of this feature the temperature modifying meanscomprises a heater member located at the bottom of the cabinet, theheater member defining the bottom surface of the cabinet, and thedivider rods rest thereon; the heater member is removably mounted in thecabinet to enable replacement by a bottom plate; the temperaturemodifying means comprises an air cooler forming one side of the cabinet;and the air cooler is removably mounted in the cabinet to enablereplacement by a side plate.

Still another aspect of the invention features, with a self-levelingdispenser having an elevator platform sized to receive more than oneside-byside stack of articles, and a cabinet surrounding the platform,an air temperature modifying means located below the upwardmost positionof the platform, and apertures through the platform defining air flowpaths whereby temperature modified air can flow freely about articles onthe platform.

In preferred embodiments of this feature the cabinet defines articleguide surfaces closely surrounding the platform, the space therebetweenproviding restricted air passages; the temperature modifying meanscomprises a heater member forming the bottom of the cabinet, the cabinetbeing open interiorly permitting air heated by contact with the heatermember to pass upwardly by convection to the platform through which itthen passes to contact the articles; the temperature modifying meanscomprises an air cooling member forming a side of the cabinet and thecabinet being open interiorly permitting air cooled by the coolingmember to pass freely to the platform and therethrough, establishing acooling flow path past articles on the platform; and the air coolingmember includes an air inlet disposed to draw air from the bottom of thecabinet, and a cooled air outlet is disposed to discharge cooled air ata position spaced above at least certain positions of the platform,whereby when the platform is in those positions, air from the outletpasses directly about the articles, thence through the platform anddownwardly to the inlet.

These and other objects and features of the invention will beillustrated in connection with the description of preferred embodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;while FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air cooler unit which canreplace the door of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a perspectiveview of an air heater unit which can replace the bottom panel of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating placementof the divider rods, according to the invention and multiple stacks ofarticles on the platform; and

FIG. 4a is a cross-section view on a larger scale of the divider rodassembly;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showingthe heater installed;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the air cooler and its flow I pathrelative to the elevator;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the heater unit of FIG. 13 is a planview of another elevator platform while FIG. 14 is a view of a tubularguide member assembled therewith;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of another elevator platform while FIG. 16 is aview of a tubular guide member being assembled therewith.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 elevator platform is supported oncantilever arms 12 and actuated by biasing mechanism 14 to automaticallyraise the platform as articles, e.g., plates 16 (FIG. 4) are removed.

A cabinet formed by side walls 18, door 20 and bottom panel 22 enclosesthe platform, and a top 23 can be applied, all serving to protect thearticles. When the lid is removed the articles may be progressivelyadded, e.g., dishes, while the dispenser is stationed near a dishwasher,and may be removed e.g., at a serving line.

The platform 10 has a multiplicity of apertures 24 having vertical axes.In this embodiment the articlesupporting surface of the platformcomprises a metal sheet 10a (FIG. 9) and the apertures are simplystamped therein.

At selected apertures (in the particular instance shown at fourlocations, FIG. 4), tubular guide members 26 are installed. Referring toFIGS. 9 and 4a, each guide member comprises an elongated tubular member28, e.g., 3 inches length or more,-which is threaded on one end. A firstnut 30 is applied, and after insertion of the end of the tube throughthe aperture from the bottom, a second nut 32 is applied, drawing thefirst nut tightly against the underside of the plate 10a of theplatform. In this embodiment the tubular member extends freelydownwardly from this fastening.

While the tubular member may be constructed of any material, includingbent wire in tubular array, it is presently preferred to use a tube oflow-friction rigid plastic such as nylon.

Into the opening 34 of the tubular guide members 26 are insertedvertical divider rods 36. Preferably, referring to FIG. 40, thesecomprise cylindrical steel rods 36a carrying an exterior coating, e.g.,of vinyl, which preferably has elastomeric and low friction qualities.The diameter of the rods is less than that of the tubular membersproviding a freely sliding fit, and the vertical rods rest upon bottomsurface 22, the weight of the steel rods tending to overcome any chancefriction or tendency to catch on the tubular members. Stop members 38,e.g., threaded nuts or snap-on elements are applied to the lower ends ofthe rods, simply to prevent removal of the rods through the platform.

In operation it will be understood that the tubular members 28, positionthe rods vertically in the selected locations on the elevator surface,thus serving to prevent e.g., one stack of dishes from striking thenext, see FIG. 4, or otherwise to maintain the integrity of the stacksof articles during dispensing.

As individual articles are removed, and the platform rises (or areadded, and the platform sinks) under the influence of mechanism 14, therods remain stationary while the tubular members 28 slide thereuponwhile moving with the elevator. Whenever it is desired to locate stacksdifferently, the rods may be relocated using the threaded fasteningsmentioned.

FIG. 10 illustrates a tubular member with integral shoulder 28a andsingle nut 32a and FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the use of such memberswith different forms of the member defining the platform surface. FIG.13 illustrates a platform surface having elongated slotform apertures 40along which the tubular members are adjustable, and enlarged insertionholes into which the tubular member of FIG. 14 may be inserted. In thisparticular embodiment opposed shoulders 28c and 28d are permanentlyjoined to the guide tube, and being of resilient material, grip theedges of the elongated slots 40 to retain their position in use.

FIG. 15 illustrates a platform formed of wire members 39, definingelongated apertures. The tubular member of FIG. 16 has a single circularledge 41 defining an annular recess 42. The outer diameter of the ledgeis greater than the normal spacing S between adjacent wire members, andis snapped into place, see FIG. 16, by resilient distortion of the wiremembers, as suggested in dotted lines.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 14 and 16 the tubular members protrude inboth vertical directions from the fastening, and thus are adapted toproperly position divider rods of considerable length.

In use, as shown in FIG. 1 advantageously the open area of the aperturesis in excess of that required by the tubular members, and theseapertures, or at least a majority of the area of them are left open,defining air flow passages around the various stacks of articles on theelevator. Thus it is advantageous that the apertures be distributed inan even, repetitive pattern across the platform surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 8 the bottom panel 22 of the cabinet isreadily removable and a heater unit 50 of similar form is inserted.Referring to FIG. 7 this heater u'nit comprises a top heated surface 52,a pair of insulator panels 54 of mica or mica like material betweenwhich is secured a resistive heater element 56, a bottom insulator 58and panel 61, joined together around the perimeter by fastenings 63.

As shown in FIG. 5 the rods rest upon surface 52 just as they did onbottom panel 22. Air heated by heated surface 52 rises and the interiorof the cabinet is open, so that the air proceeds up to bottom of theelevator and then finds its way past the stacks of articles, throughapertures not blocked off by the articles themselves. Thus, in a selfadjusting way, air passes around the various sides of the articles, asindicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5, to heat them in the desired manner,without any special steps required to change the heat flow path whenchanging from one distribution of stacks to another, and with heating ofall the articles in the stack no matter what level the platform is at.

Referring to FIG. 5, the heater incorporates a control panel 65 whichprotrudes at an angle-upwardly to be accessible immediately below thedoor of the cabinet.

It will be seen that a standard production item having no heating isthus rapidly convertible into a heated dispenser, e.g., to preheatdishes or to preheat food articles to be dispensed.

In similar manner, cooling can be achieved. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6an air cooler 60 is constructed to be suspended by clips 62 from thecabinet, filling the space previously closed by door 20. This unitincludes a fan and coil, has an air inlet 64 at the bottom and an airoutlet 66 at the top. In this case the air flow is the reverse, thecooled air flowing downwardly past the articles on the platform, thencethrough the perforations in the platform surface, thence to the airinlet of the cooler. This arrangement also ensures substantial sweepingof the volume of the cabinet unoccupied by articles on the platform. Theinterior space between the platform and the air inlet being kept openfor this purpose.

Numerous changes in the specific details will be understood.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self leveling dispenser comprising an elevator platform andmeans for biasing the platform upwardly to cause its upward travel asarticles on the platform are removed, and including stationary rod meansresting on a bottom surface and passing through apertures in the articlesupport surface of the platform, said rod means arranged to separatestacks of articles on the platform from one another, the improvementwherein said elevator platform comprises an article supporting surfacehaving a multiplicity of apertures distributed thereover with verticaltubular form guide members secured in selected apertures, said guiderods slidably disposed within said tubular guide members, whereby, assaid platform moves, said tubular form guide members move verticallyalong said stationary rods while positioning said rods on said supportsurface.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said tubular guide members areremovably secured in said apertures to enable change in position of saidguide rods.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said tubular guide members compriseelongated tubes threaded on one end and including a member threadedthereon engaging the member defining said article supporting surface,and securing said tubular member vertically with respect thereto, saidtubular member protruding freely, vertically therefrom.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said apertures are of horizontallyelongated form and said tubular guide members are adjustable therealong.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein one of the pair comprising saidtubular member and the portion of the platform forming an aperture isresiliently deformable forming a snap lock between said pair.

6. ln a self-leveling dispenser comprising an elevator platform andmeans for resiliently biasing the platform upwardly to cause itsautomatic upward travel as articles on the platform are removed, andincluding stationary stack guide rods resting on a bottom surface andpassing vertically, and relatively slidably through apertures in thearticle support surface of the platform, said stack guide rods arrangedto extend along and stabilize a stack of like articles and to separatestacks of articles on the platform from one another, the improvementwherein said elevator platform comprises an a'rticle supporting surfacehaving a large multiplicity of apertures distributed thereover, saidapertures each adapted to receive a said guide rod, said guide rodsselectively and removably disposed in a minority of said apertures:while the majority of the aperture area remainsopen, said dispenserincluding a cabinet enclosing the elevator platform and air temperaturemodifying means associated with said cabinet, arranged to change the airtemperature in a given area of the cabinet, said open aperture area ofsaid platform providing air circulation passages enablingtemperature-modified air to fpass through said platform and contact saidstacks 0 articles thereon at various selfleveled positions of saidplatform.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said temperature modifying meanscomprises a heater member having a heated horizontal surface located atthe bottom of said cabinet, said surface defining the bottom surface ofsaid cabinet beneath all of said apertures, and said stack guide rodsresting thereon.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said heater member is removablymounted in said cabinet to enable replacement by a bottom plate.

9. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said temperature modifying meanscomprises an air cooler forming one side of said cabinet, said aircooler being removably mounted in said cabinet to enable replacement bya side plate.

10. A self-leveling dispenser comprising an elevator platform sized toreceive more than one side-by-side stack of articles, means forresiliently biasing the platform upwardly to cause its automatic upwardtravel as articles on the platform are removed, and a cabinetsurrounding said platform while providing access to said articles, anair heater located below said platform, and apertures through saidplatform defining air flow paths whereby heated air can flow freelyabout articles on said platform, said air heater comprising a generallyplanar heated surface forming the bottom of said cabinet and removablysupported peripherally by said cabinet, said air heater sized to beremoved from said cabinet and a control assembly for powering said airheater carried by said removable heater and protruding from the bottomthereof, said cabinet being open interiorly permitting air heated bycontact with said bottom-forming heated surface to pass upwardly byconvection to said platform through which it then passes to contact andheat said articles.

11. A self-leveling dispenser comprising an elevator platform sized toreceive more than one side-by-side stack of articles, more forresiliently biasing the platform upwardly to cause its automatic upwardtravel as articles on the platform are removed, and a cabinetsurrounding said platform while providing access to said articles, anair cooling member, and apertures through said platform defining airflow paths whereby cooled air can flow freely about articles on saidplatform, said air cooling member forming a removable side of saidcabinet and said cabinet being open interiorly permitting air cooled bysaid cooling member to pass freely to said platform and therethrough.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said air cooling member includesan air inlet disposed to draw air from the bottom of said cabinet, and acooled air outlet disposed to discharge cooled air at a position spacedabove at least certain positions of said platform, whereby when saidplatform is in said positions, air from said outlet passes directlyabout said articles, thence downwardly through said platform, downwardly

1. In a self leveling dispenser comprising an elevator platform andmeans for biasing the platform upwardly to cause its upward travel asarticles on the platform are removed, and including stationary rod meansresting on a bottom surface and passing through apertures in the articlesupport surface of the platform, said rod means arranged to separatestacks of articles on the platform from one another, the improvementwherein said elevator platform comprises an article supporting surfacehaving a multiplicity of apertures distributed thereover with verticaltubular form guide members secured in selected apertures, said guiderods slidably disposed within said tubular guide members, whereby, assaid platform moves, said tubular form guide members move verticallyalong said stationary rods while positioning said rods on said supportsurface.
 1. In a self leveling dispenser comprising an elevator platformand means for biasing the platform upwardly to cause its upward travelas articles on the platform are removed, and including stationary rodmeans resting on a bottom surface and passing through apertures in thearticle support surface of the platform, said rod means arranged toseparate stacks of articles on the platform from one another, theimprovement wherein said elevator platform comprises an articlesupporting surface having a multiplicity of apertures distributedthereover with vertical tubular form guide members secured in selectedapertures, said guide rods slidably disposed within said tubular guidemembers, whereby, as said platform moves, said tubular form guidemembers move vertically along said stationary rods while positioningsaid rods on said support surface.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1 whereinsaid tubular guide members are removably secured in said apertures toenable change in position of said guide rods.
 3. The dispenser of claim2 wherein said tubular guide members comprise elongated tubes threadedon one end and including a member threaded thereon engaging the memberdefining said article supporting surface, and securing said tubularmember vertically with respect thereto, said tubular member protrudingfreely, vertically therefrom.
 4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidapertures are of horizontally elongated form and said tubular guidemembers are adjustable therealong.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1 whereinone of the pair comprising said tubular member and the portion of theplatform forming an aperture is resiliently deformable forming a snaplock between said pair.
 6. In a self-leveling dispenser comprising anelevator platform and means for resiliently biasing the platformupwardly to cause its automatic upward travel as articles on theplatform are removed, and including stationary stack guide rods restingon a bottom surface and passing vertically, and relatively slidablythrough apertures in the article support surface of the platform, saidstack guide rods arranged to extend along and stabilize a stack of likearticles and to separate stacks of articles on the platform from oneanother, the improvement wherein said elevator platform comprises anarticle supporting surface having a large multiplicity of aperturesdistributed thereover, said apertures each adapted to receive a saidguide rod, said guide rods selectively and removably disposed in aminority of said apertures while the majority of the aperture arearemains open, said dispenser including a cabinet enclosing the elevatorplatform and air temperature modifying means associated with saidcabinet, arranged to change the air temperature in a given area of thecabinet, said open aperture area of said platform providing aircirculation passages enabling temperature-modified air to pass throughsaid platform and contact said stacks of articles thereon at variousself-leveled positions of said platform.
 7. The dispenser of claim 6wherein said temperature modifying means comprises a heater memberhaving a heated horizontal surface located at the bottom of saidcabinet, said surface defining the bottom surface of said cabinetbeneath all of said apertures, and said stack guide rods restingthereon.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said heater member isremovably mounted in said cabinet to enable replacement by a bottomplate.
 9. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said temperature modifyingmeans comprises an air cooler forming one side of said cabinet, said aircooler being removably mounted in said cabinet to enable replacement bya side plate.
 10. A self-leveling dispenser comprising an elevatorplatform sized to receive more than one side-by-side stack of articles,means for resiliently biasing the platform upwardly to cause itsautomatic upward travel as articles on the platform are removed, and acabinet surrounding said platform while providing access to saidarticles, an air heater located below said platform, and aperturesthrough said platform defining air flow paths whereby heated air canflow freely about articles on said platform, said air heater comprisinga generally planar heated surface forming the bottom of said cabinet andremovably supported peripherally by said cabinet, said air heater sizedto be removed from said cabinet and a control assembly for powering saidair heater carried by said removable heater and protruding from thebottom thereof, said cabinet being open interiorly permitting air heatedby contact with said bottom-forming heated surface to pass upwardly byconvection to said platform through which it then passes to contact andheat said articles.
 11. A self-leveling dispenser comprising an elevatorplatform sized to receive more than one side-by-side stack of articles,more for resiliently biasing the platform upwardly to cause itsautomatic upward travel as articles on the platform are removed, and acabinet surrounding said platform while providing access to saidarticles, an air cooling member, and apertures through said platformdefining air flow paths whereby cooled air can flow freely aboutarticles on said platform, said air cooling member forming a removableside of said cabinet and said cabinet being open interiorly permittingair cooled by said cooling member to pass freely to said platform andtherethrough.